It’s believed a number of Catholic operators are forming a strategic gambit in the high stakes sell-off of Healthscope’s 37 hospitals.
In the high-stakes game of manoeuvres for Healthscope’s 37 hospitals, Catholic operators Calvary and Mater Hospital Group have reportedly joined forces in a strategic gambit.
The Australian reports Calvary is poised to make the opening move by making a full bid for the entire Healthscope hospital group. They’re then planning a reshuffle of assets, which will include passing Gold Coast Private Hospital and two other Queensland hospitals to Mater Hospital Group.
The result would mean the two faith-based giants would strengthen their position without crossing regulatory lines.
Calvary would also need to divest National Capital Private Hospital in Canberra to Ramsay Health Care.
However, there are allegedly several bidders at play in this boardroom chess match. St John of God Healthcare has stepped in as a rival bidder for Gold Coast Private Hospital and is also interested in the Mount Hospital in WA.
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Ramsay Health Care is eyeing strategic flanks in Canberra, Perth and Melbourne and Epworth has an interest in five hospitals. Pacific Equity Partners, which owns Healthe Care, plans on moving some of its hospitals around various investment groups depending on what it ends up acquiring.
St Vincent’s Health Australia, on the other hand, is believed to have fallen off the board.
It’s understood that the final bids toward the endgame for the embattled hospital group are due at the beginning of November — only a few weeks until we know who will deliver a checkmate in Australia’s private hospital landscape.